Pirates Score Three in 9th to Beat Marlins 3-1, End Skid at 10

RECAP

Carlos Santana singled in the go-ahead run during a three-run rally in the ninth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates came back to beat the Marlins 3-1 on Friday night and end their season-long 10-game losing streak at loanDepot Park in Miami.

Down 1-0, Josh Palacios led off the ninth with a pinch-hit single. One out later, Andrew McCutchen singled and then pulled off a double steal with Palacios.

Palacios scored the tying run on Connor Joe’s groundout and McCutchen came home with the go-ahead run when Santana lined a single into center field off A.J. Puk (3-2). Pinch-hitter Tucupita Marcano singled in an insurance run to cap the rally for the Pirates (35-40).

Rookie Luis Ortiz (2-3) got his first win since May 22 as he allowed one run on seven hits over a career-high eight innings with five strikeouts and two walks. David Bednar pitched a perfect ninth for his 15^th save.

The Pirates’ Nick Gonzales made his major-league debut and went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a ground out while playing second base. His contract was purchased from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the game.

The Marlins (43-34) lost for the third time in their last four games.

KEY MOMENT

Santana’s single was the game-winner and broke the Pirates’ streak of 33 consecutive at-bats without a hit with runners in scoring position that stretched to last Friday.

STAR OF THE GAME

Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo pitched two-hit ball over seven scoreless innings. He had nine strikeouts and two walks.

STAT OF INTEREST

Gonzales became the 13^th player 24 years old or younger to appear in a game for the Pirates this season. That is the most in the major leagues ahead of the Cleveland Guardians (10).

NOTEWORTHY

–Henry Davis went 2 for 3 with a walk in his fifth major-league game and is 4 for 15 (.267) overall.

–Ji Hwan Bae (0 for 3) is hitless in his last 18 at-bats, Austin Hedges (0 for 2) is hitless in his last 15 at-bats and Rodolfo Castros (0 for 3) is hitless in his last 13 at-bats.

–The Pirates had been outscored 69-24 during their losing streak while going 4 for 51 with runners in scoring position.

–Outfielder Cal Mitchell was optioned to Indianapolis to open a spot on the 26-man roster for Gonzales and right-hander Vince Velasquez was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to clear space on the 40-man roster.

–This was the second time Ortiz pitched at loanDepot Park this year. He worked two scoreless innings for the Dominican Republic against Israel on March 14 in the World Baseball Classic.

UP NEXT

The third game of the four-game series will be played at 4:05 p.m. Saturday with Osvaldo Bido (0-1, 3.60) starting for the Pirates against fellow rookie Bryan Hoeing (1-1, 2.70). Bido will be making his third career start and Hoeing will be making his fifth.